China

AMSC files $6 million lawsuit against Sinovel

CHINA: AMSC has submitted a case to the Beijing First Intermediate People's Court, alleging copyright infringement by Sinovel.

Sinovel...accused by AMSC
It claims that Sinovel, without permission, has copied, installed, and applied illegally revised PLC electronic control software and PM3000 frequency converter software on wind turbines.

It alleges that the products are exactly the same as those Sinovel purchased from AMSC in 2008.

AMSC is demanding that Sinovel instantly stops the acts of infringing wind turbine software copyrights, deletes or destroys all infringed AMSC software on Sinovel turbines, and compensates AMSC for an economic loss of 37.8 million yuan (about $6 million US).

Sinovel said yesterday that it received a notice from the Beijing court on 21 October.

The case has not heard by the court as yet, and Sinovel said it is preparing evidence to actively respond to the claims.

AMSC then extended the battle lines by petitioning the Hainan provincial court to prohibit supplier Dalian Guotong from infringing its copyright. According to reports, Sinovel owns 22.5% of Dalian Guotong.

Earlier this month Sinovel filed a counterclaim to Beijing Arbitration Commission requesting the arbitration tribunal to reject all the arbitration claims made by AMSC and rule AMSC to compensate Sinovel CNY 79.9 million ($12 million) for economic losses from breach of contracts.

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